The Conservatory of Fine Arts

The Conservatory of Fine Arts student application window is now open! Student applications can be submitted online at http://apply.lausd.net or through a paper application. A printed version of the application can be provided by the school, please contact Reed’s GATE Coordinator Ms. Miller.

The Conservatory of Fine Arts program is:

A 19-week Saturday morning instructional program that runs from October through April

Taught by District personnel, as well as selected arts professionals

Aligned to the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework, which addresses the arts and college/career readiness standards

Open to students attending LAUSD schools in grades 3-12 who have been “identified” in the talent areas or have been recommended by their schools of attendance

Applications are due on Friday September 8, 2017 by 5:00 p.m.

An invitation to apply was sent via U.S. Postal Service to students identified gifted/talented in the arts (dance, drama, voice, or visual arts). Students identified gifted/talented in the arts have priority placement in the program. Students who participated in the Conservatory last year have already received notification to continue their enrollment. Continuing students have second priority placement.

All other District students in grades 3-12 who demonstrate potential, but are not yet identified as gifted/talented in the arts, are welcome to apply. New, non-identified students will be admitted to the program by lottery as space is available.

Please direct any questions about the Conservatory of Fine Arts to Dr. Nicole Niederdeppe, District Coordinator at (213) 241-6500 or nnn8729@lausd.net.

In order for the school to be able to process referrals in these categories for the fall audition, referrals must be submitted by September 15th. The deadline for submitting portfolios and/or evidence of ability is September 30th. (This is because the deadline for giving them to the district is in early October.)

Thanks for your support, and if you have any questions please contact Kate Miller, our GATE Coordinator, at millerihp6@gmail.com.

August 2015

Welcome to the new school year. My name is Kate Miller, and I am the new GATE Coordinator.

A bit about me:

For those who do not know me, I teach 6th grade IHP English and history as well as an additional 6th grade math class. Although I am new to the job of GATE Coordinator at Reed, I was the GATE Coordinator at my former school. (However, as this was an elementary school, I sure there will be a learning curve.) I look forward to helping our school serve the needs of its significant GATE population.

A bit about identification:

During the first month of school, we will be giving students a chance to settle in and then we will begin identifying which students might qualify for GATE assessment. Anyone (parents, teachers, etc.) may recommend a student for consideration, but a panel evaluates student qualification to make a final decision on who should be submitted for testing. If a student is selected for assessment, we require a parent consent form be signed before the process can continue as it is illegal to administer an intelligence test without parent permission. After we submit the paperwork, a district psychologist is assigned to administer the test. The district is generally quite overwhelmed with applications, and in the past there has been a backlog of 4-8 months before the psychologist actually comes to test. (I find this wait is generally shorter if we submit applications in bulk, so I generally wait until we have completed the site evaluations so that we can submit everyone’s application at the same time.) Once testing is completed, it has generally taken me another 1-2 months to get the results, so do not be frustrated if it takes some time before I can get you the results.

I know the district has moved to an electronic referral system last year, and I do not know what effect it has had on submissions and evaluations. Hopefully the process has been streamlined, but we will have to wait and see!

A bit about our program:

I will be working with the administration and the counselors to try and ensure that everyone is placed in an appropriately challenging academic schedule. Any child who is identified gifted should be placed in honors and/or S.A.S. (Advanced Studies) classes for the subjects in which they have been identified. (For example, a child who is gifted in math is entitled to an honors math class, but they may not be able to handle the rigors of an honors English class.) The teachers in these classes are trained in the needs and teaching techniques for gifted students. This training is updated annually.

Thanks for all of your support, and if I can help you in any way, please let me know at millerihp6@gmail.com.

Click here for information about the National Junior Honors Society at Reed.